Anguished over illegal constructions, the court has suggested to consider "airlifting" of the 108-foot statue near Karol Bagh to remove encroachments around it.

New Delhi: Like the US, local authorities in Delhi may have to devise a plan to "airlift" a huge structure after a High Court observation today. But the challenge is, its the giant Hanuman statue in the heart of the city.

Anguished over illegal constructions, the court has suggested to consider "airlifting" of the 108-foot statue near Karol Bagh to remove encroachments around it.

Observing that entire skyscrapers have been relocated completely in the United States, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar gave the suggestion while hearing a petition by an NGO seeking removal of unauthorised constructions and encroachments.

"Consider if the statue can be airlifted. Speak to the LG. You know, in the US, entire skyscrapers are shifted as a whole," the court said.

The statue has become a landmark of the city and has appeared in a number Bollywood films.

The matter came up before the bench today as the local authorities were seeking a modification with regard to the police station which would be responsible for implementing the court's November 15 direction to remove encroachments from the area.

The court rapped the civic bodies saying "at even one place show that the law was being enforced, "the mindset of the people of Delhi would change".

It said enough opportunities have been given to the municipal corporations to enforce the law "but no one wants to do it".